Why Hugo Broos won’t give Sundowns players ‘special treatment’

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has confirmed he will stick to his guns and field a strong lineup for Tuesday’s international friendly against Panama, despite growing concerns over player exhaustion at Mamelodi Sundowns.

The South African national team is set to face the Central Americans for the second time in four days, moving from Durban to the Cape Town Stadium. While Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso has been vocal about his squad’s gruelling schedule—balancing a tight Betway Premiership title race with CAF Champions League semi-final preparations—Broos remains unapologetic about his selection policy.

No Special Treatment for Sundowns

The Bafana squad currently features seven Sundowns stars: Ronwen Williams, Themba Zwane, Khuliso Mudau, Teboho Mokoena, Khulumani Ndamane, Aubrey Modiba, and Jayden Adams. Most of these players featured heavily in Friday’s 1-1 draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

When asked if he would rotate the squad to assist the Pretoria-based club, Broos was characteristically blunt.

“No, there will not be a lot of changes [against Panama], not at all. I know that Sundowns players have an overloaded programme in the next weeks, but okay, this is not my problem,” Broos stated.

Focus on World Cup Readiness

For the Belgian tactician, the priority is the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is now less than three months away. He argued that the public would not accept excuses if the national team underperforms on the world stage just to accommodate domestic club interests.

“I have to prepare for a World Cup,” Broos explained. “I think when we have a disappointing World Cup, people will not say, ‘Oh coach, it’s nothing, you saved the players from Sundowns.’ No.”

Broos further suggested that the solution lies with Sundowns’ own squad depth rather than national team rotation. He noted that the Brazilians boast a massive 35-man roster, giving Cardoso ample room to manage minutes in the PSL.

“If Mokoena, Modiba, or Mudau play or even don’t play, they always win games in the PSL. So, I don’t see the problem for them,” Broos concluded.